Video camera

ABSTRACT

A video camera has a body with a rear surface at which a battery unit is normally mounted, a remote control receiver has front and rear surfaces respectively mating with the rear and front surfaces of the camera body and battery unit, respectively, interengageable coupling devices at the front and rear surfaces of the remote control receiver and camera body and at the rear and front surfaces of the remote control receiver and battery unit, respectively, so that the battery unit can be mounted directly at the rear of the camera body or with the remote control receiver between the camera body and the battery unit.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/674,912,filed Mar. 26, 1991, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a video camera to which there is removablyattached a remote control receiver for the remote operation of the cameby a remote control transmitter (commander).

2. Description of the Prior Art

A video camera is already known to which there is removably attached aremote control receiver for the remote operation of the camera, forexample, by a remote control transmitter (commander). An example of suchvideo cameras is shown in FIG. 5. Referring to FIG. 5. the video cameragenerally denoted at 50 includes a camera body 51 having a shoe 52 forthe mounting of an attachment provided on an upper face thereof. Aremote control receiver 53 for the remote operation by way of infraredrays is removably attached to the shoe 52 so that remote operation ofrecording. reproduction and so forth of the video camera 50 can beperformed by means of a wireless remote control transmitter (commander)54.

Since the remote control receiver 53 for use with such conventionalvideo camera 50 is removably attached to the shoe 52 provided for themounting, on the upper face of the camera body 51, of other attachments,such as, a video light, and projects upwardly from the upper face of thecamera body 51. the video camera 50 with the receiver 53 thereon feedsinformation to a regular user of the video camera 50 and the camera 50does not have the feel of an integrated design.

Further, the remote control receiver 53 cannot be attached to adifferent video camera on which such shoe 52 is not provided on theupper face of the camera body 51.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a video camera onwhich a remote control receiver can be removably attached readilywithout the provision of a shoe for the mounting of an attachment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a video camerawhich can feel to a user like an integrated design even when a remotecontrol receiver is attached thereto.

In order to attain the objects, according to the present invention,there is provided a video camera which comprises a camera body with arear surface on which, first battery receiving means are provided on thefor removably mounting thereon a battery unit having front and rearsurface from which a power to be supplied to the camera body, a remotecontrol receiver configured to be interposed between the camera body andthe battery unit and to be removably attached to the camera body by thefirst battery receiving means, second battery receiving means providedon the remote control receiver for removably mounting the battery unitthereon, and power supply means provided on the remote control receiverfor supplying power from the battery unit to the remote control receiverand through the latter to the camera body.

With the video camera, the remote control receiver can be readilyremovably attached to the first battery mounting means provided on thecamera body even where the camera body has no shoe for the mountingthereon of an attachment. Further, when a battery is attached to thesecond battery receiving section on the remote control receiverremovably attached to the first battery mounting means on the camerabody, power is supplied from the battery through the remote controlreceiver to the camera body by way of the power supply means. Further,the video camera according to the invention has an integrated feeling inthat its appearance and configuration are not largely changed wheninserting the remote control receiver between the camera body and thebattery unit.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description and theappended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich like parts or elements are denoted by like reference characters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a video camera showing apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the video camera of FIG. 1 in use;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a remote control receiver for use withthe video camera of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a modification to the videocamera of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional video camera.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an 8 mm video camera towhich the present invention is applied. The 8 mm video camera 1 is ofthe small size type wherein a side portion 4 of a video camera body 2adjacent a grip section 3 is formed as a VTR deck section for driving atape cassette (not shown) loaded therein. A rear portion surface of thecamera body 2 is formed as a battery receiving section 5. The batteryreceiving section 5 includes pairs of hook-or L-shaped arrestingportions 5a and 5b formed integrally on opposing inner faces of a pairof flange portions 2a and 2b which extend integrally and rearwardly fromupper and lower edges of the camera body 2. The battery receivingsection 5 further includes a positive terminal 6 and a negative terminal7 in the form of pins secured to and extending rearwardly from a rearface of the camera body 2.

A remote control receiver 10 for the remote control of camera operationby means of infrared rays is removably attached to the battery receivingsection 5. Pairs of L-shaped recessed engaging or coupling portions 10aand 10b are formed at corner portions of a front face of the remotecontrol receiver 10 corresponding to the pairs of arresting portions 5aand 5b of the battery receiving section 5 of the camera body 2.Meanwhile, a pair of metal plates (not shown) in the form of springs areprovided at locations of the front face of the remote control receiver10 corresponding to the positive and negative terminals 6 and 7 of thebattery receiving section 5 of the camera body 2. When the remotecontrol receiver 10 is to be attached to or removed from the batteryreceiving section 5 of the camera body 2, the pairs of engaging portions10a and 10b of the remote control receiver 10 are engaged with ordisengaged from the pairs of arresting portions 5a and 5b of the batteryreceiving section 5. Accordingly, the remote control receiver 10 can bereadily attached to or removed from the battery receiving section 5. Itis to be noted that, when the remote control receiver 10 is attached tothe battery receiving section 5 of the camera body 2, the pair of metalplates in the form of springs on the front face of the remote controlreceiver 10 are contacted with the positive and negative terminals 6 and7 of the battery receiving section 5.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown an example of an electriccircuit of the remote control receiver 10. The electric circuit shownincludes a light receiving section 11, a remote control microcomputer12, a main microcomputer 13, a mode indicating LED (light emittingdiode) 14, a controller 15 for controlling the microcomputers 12 and 13in response to a signal from the camera body 2, and three time intervalswitches S1, S2 and S3. The light receiving section 11 to projects froman upper face of the remote control receiver 10 while the time intervalswitches S1, S2 and S3 project from a side face of the remote controlreceiver 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The time interval switch S1 isactuable for causing recording, for example, for one second in threeminutes. The time interval switch S2 is actuable for causing recording,for example, for one second in 10 minutes while the time interval switchS3 is actuable for causing recording, for example, for one second in 30minutes. The remote control receiver 10 is adapted to be connected to aremote terminal (not shown) provided on the camera body 2 by way of aconnecting cord 16 and a plug 16a at the free end or the connecting cord16. It is to be noted that a self timer switch for starting recordingupon the lapse of a preset interval of time (minutes) may be provided onthe remote control receiver 10 in addition to the time interval switchesS1. S2 and S3.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that a rear portion ofthe remote control receiver 10 is formed as a battery receiving section17. The battery receiving section 17 is formed with a profile similar tothat of the battery receiving section 5 formed on the camera body 2 andincludes pairs of hook- or L-shaped arresting portions 17a and 17bformed integrally on opposing inner faces of a pair of flange portions10c and 10d which are integral with and project from the upper and lowerend portions of a rear face of the remote control receiver 10. Thebattery receiving section 17 further includes a positive terminal 18 anda negative terminal 19 in the form of pins extending rearwardly from therear face of the remote control receiver 10.

A battery 20 is removably attached to the battery receiving section 17of the remote control receiver 10. Pairs of L-shaped recessed engagingportions 21a and 21b are formed at corner locations of a front face ofthe battery 20 corresponding to the pairs of arresting portions 17a and17b of the remote control receiver 10. A pair of metal plates (notshown) in the form of springs are provided at locations of the frontface of the battery 20 corresponding to the positive and negativeterminals 18 and 19 of the battery receiving section 17. When thebattery 20 is to be attached to or removed from the battery receivingsection 17 of the remote control receiver 10, the pairs of engagingportions 21a and 21b of the battery 20 are engaged with or disengagedfrom the pairs of arresting portions 17a and 17b of the batteryreceiving section 17. Consequently, the battery 20 can be readilyattached to or removed from the battery receiving section 17 When thebattery 20 is attached to the battery receiving section 17 of the remotecontrol receiver 10, the pair of metal plates in the form of springs onthe front face of the battery. 20 are contacted with the positive andnegative terminals 18 and 19 of the battery receiving section 17 so thatpower can be supplied to the camera body 2 and the remote controlreceiver 10.

It is to be noted that the battery 20 may be either of the rechargeablepack type or the case type in which a plurality of dry cells areinstalled. Further, the battery 20 can be attached directly to thebattery receiving section 5 of the camera body 2 when the remote controlreceiver 10 is not employed.

A remote control transmitter (commander) 30 is shown in FIG. 2. Theremote control transmitter 30 is of the wireless type which can remotelyoperate the remote control receiver 20 by means of infrared rays.Various operation buttons for recording, reproducing, zooming up,zooming down and so forth are provided on an upper face of the remotecontrol transmitter 30.

With the video camera 1 of the embodiment described so far, since theremote control receiver 10 is removably attached to the batteryreceiving section 5 provided on the camera body 2 while the batteryreceiving section 17 for removably receiving the battery 20 thereon isprovided on the remote control receiver 10, the remote control receiver10 can be readily attached removably to the battery receiving section 5even when the video camera 1 does not have a shoe, as at 52 on FIG. 5,for the mounting of an attachment on the camera body thereof. Power canthus be supplied to the camera body 2 and the remote control receiver 10from the battery 20 which is attached to the battery receiving section17 of the remote control receiver 10. Consequently, the video camera 1can be remotely operated by operating the remote control receiver 10thereof by way of the remote control transmitter 30.

Further, since the remote control receiver 10 is attached to the batteryreceiving section 5 of the camera body 2 and the battery 20 is attachedto the battery receiving section 17 of the remote control receiver 10,the remote control receiver 10 is held between and integrated with thecamera body 2 and the battery 20 as seen in FIG. 2. Consequently, thevideo camera 1 has an overall configuration that is substantially thesame whether or not the remote control receiver 10 is attached thereto.Thus, the mounting of the remote control receiver 10 between the camerabody 2 and the battery 20 does not make a regular user the video camera1 feel unfamiliar therewith, and an integrated design feeling can beobtained with the video camera 1.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a video camera according to theinvention which differs from the video camera of the embodimentdescribed above only in that a modified remote control receiver 10' isprovided for the remote operation of the camera by means of radio waves.The remote control receiver 10' functions either a tuner or the like andcan be removably attached to the battery receiving section 5 provided onthe camera body 2 so as to be interposed between the battery 20 and thecamera body 2 of the video camera 1. An antenna 11' for the reception ofradio waves is provided on a side face of the remote control receiver10'. The modified video camera, of FIG. 4 can attain effects similar tothose described above with reference to the video camera of FIGS. 1-3.

It is to be noted that, while the video cameras of the embodiment andthe modification described above are each formed as an 8 mm videocamera, the present invention can naturally be applied to any othervideo camera.

Having now fully described the invention, it will be apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art that many changes and modifications can bemade thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as set forth herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A video camera comprising a camera body having arear surface, first battery receiving means provided on said rearsurface of the camera body, a battery unit from which power is to besupplied to said camera body, said battery unit having a front surfaceadapted to mate with said rear surface of the camera body and havingfirst coupling means for releasable engagement with said first batteryreceiving means when said battery unit is mounted directly on saidcamera body, a removable remote control receiver having first and secondopposed surfaces which are substantially coextensive and respectivelyadapted to mate with said rear surface of the camera body and said frontsurface of the battery unit, said removable remote control receiverfurther having a peripheral surface extending between said first andsecond opposed surfaces so as to be substantially contiguous with outersurfaces of said camera body and said battery unit when said remotecontrol receiver is interposed between said camera body and said batteryunit, radiant signal receiving means integral with said removable remotecontrol receiver and being permanently disposed at said peripheralsurface for receiving a radiant energy wave signal from a remote controltransmitter, second battery receiving means on said removable remotecontrol receiver at said second surface of the latter for releasableengagement with said first coupling means when said remote controlreceiver is removably interposed between said camera body and saidbattery unit, second coupling means on said removable remote controlreceiver at said first surface of the latter for releasable engagementwith said first battery receiving means when said remote controlreceiver is removably mounted on said camera body, and power means onsaid remote control receiver for supplying power from said battery unitto said remote control receiver and, through the latter, to said camerabody when said removable remote control receiver is interposed betweensaid camera body and said battery unit.
 2. A video camera according toclaim 1, wherein said removable remote control receiver further includescord means for transmitting to said camera body a control signalcorresponding to the received radiant energy wave signal.
 3. A videocamera according to claim 1, wherein said first and second batteryreceiving means are of substantially similar appearance and constructionso as to be interchangeably engageable by said second and first couplingmeans on said remote control receiver and said battery unit,respectively.
 4. A video camera according to claim 3, wherein each ofsaid first and second battery receiving means includes a pair of flangesfor holding said remote control receiver or said battery unittherebetween and a plurality of arresting portions provided on saidflanges, and each of said second and first coupling means on said remotecontrol receiver and said battery unit has a plurality of engagingportions provided thereon for engaging with said arresting portions toremovably attach said remote control receiver or said battery unit tosaid first or second battery receiving means.
 5. A video cameraaccording to claim 1, wherein said remote control receiver containselectrical circuit means for selectively determining a plurality ofrecording time intervals for the video camera, and control elements forsaid electrical circuit means projecting from said peripheral surface ofthe remote control receiver and being actuable for selecting respectiveones of said recording time intervals.
 6. A video camera according toclaim 5, wherein said radiant signal receiving means projects from saidperipheral surface of the remote control receiver at a top portion ofthe latter, and said control elements for the electrical circuit projectfrom said peripheral surface at a side portion of said remote controlreceiver.